awkward
Uncomfortable and clumsy, or difficult to deal with.
awkward in a sentence
- There was an awkward silence when Tom realised he had called the teacher 'Mum'.
- Carrying the wobbly ladder through the narrow gate was an awkward job for the two of us.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to awkward?
- Aeasy
- Bgraceful
- Csmooth
- Dclumsy
Show the answer
D: clumsy. The other three mean the opposite of awkward.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to awkward?
- Auncomfortable
- Bclumsy
- Cgraceful
Show the answer
C: graceful. The other three mean nearly the same as awkward.
Words that mean something similar
clumsy, uncomfortable
Words that mean the opposite
graceful, easy, smooth
More words about behaviour & manners
- beguile: To charm or trick someone in a clever way.
- betray: To let someone down by breaking their trust, often by giving away their secrets.
- boisterous: Noisy, lively and full of rough energy.
- brazen: Bold and cheeky, without any shame.
- brusque: Using few words in a way that seems rude and unfriendly.
- cajole: To gently persuade someone by being nice or making promises.
- caution: The care you take to avoid danger or mistakes.
- cautious: Careful to avoid danger or mistakes.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test